Professional statement: Brief summary of your working life. If you’re a recent college graduate, consider doing an objective summary, which describes your career goals. Keep this focused on what you have to offer your potential employer, not what you want from the company.

Relevant experience: Instead of the old work and volunteer experience sections, this one lumps all that employers need to know into one.

Use bullet points instead of paragraphs to describe work experience. Start each one with an action verb (such as “served,” “managed” or “created”). Each of these bullet points should reference a requirement in the ad.

List experience chronologically

Skills: If the ad called for Microsoft Word proficiency then put it here. Also list other skills you have that are relevant to the job.

Education: Lead with this if you are a recent graduate without much work experience. Otherwise, keep it at the bottom as your résumé, as it is one of the less important items for recruiters.

DON'T...

Include a photo. This tends to turn more recruiters off than on. Obviously, disregard this advice if you are applying for a job that requires a head shot (modeling, acting, broadcasting).

List your hobbies. This trend is something recruiters are officially over. “Community involvement, volunteer work — that’s fine. If it’s like ‘I like to read books,’ that’s a no-no now,” said Matt Braswell, associate director of counseling services at HACC.

Say “References available upon request.” The phrase is assumed now and takes up valuable space on your résumé.

Email it as a text file. Opt instead for PDF file, which will preserve the original formatting of your resume.

Use a funky font. Your font should reflect how serious you take the application. This does not mean you have to use Times New Roman all the time, but you should refrain from using Comic Sans.

Have a wacky voice mail. Check your voice mail message to make sure it is as professional as you want to appear. Having an Eminem song play while the recruiter tries to reach you is not the best idea.

Feature a weird email address. Like the voice mail message, keep the email address professional. Braswell advises sticking with the basics, your name at whatever site.

BEFORE YOU SEND IT IN, ASK...

Did I spell check? This one’s obvious, but often forgotten. Have a friend proofread it, as well.

Is it visually appealing? “Keep it standard, keep it professional, keep it polished,” Washington said. A sloppy looking résumé could earn your application a spot in the trash can.

Is the most important information easily spotted? “I’ve heard that the amount of time someone spends looking at a résumé the first time — it’s usually a matter of seconds,” said Ben Allatt, vice president of JFC Medical. Make sure the recruiter does not miss your key points by having them up top.

Can I make it shorter? Your résumé should be no more than two pages. If you’re a recent graduate without much work experience, it should be one page. All of the information on your résumé should be relevant to the job.

Are there any gaps? If there are gaps in time, either because of unrelated work experience or unemployment, find a way to fill them in within your résumé. Consider an “other work experience” section or explaining it in your cover letter.

Does this address the ad? If you have not demonstrated that you fulfill every requirement in the ad, then start over.

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